No pre-nup for Mariah

Pop diva Mariah Carey’s shotgun wedding to rapper Nick Cannon was such a whirlwind, she failed to secure a pre-nup before tying the knot.

Carey, 38, married rapper and actor Cannon, 27, Wednesday at the home she recently purchased in Eleuthera, in the Bahamas, The NY Post reported.

"They have been smitten with each other for days, weeks," a friend of Carey’s told The Post. "And she’s always had a crush on him."
 

Despite Carey’s apparent bliss, other friends have expressed concern that Carey—who recently surpassed Elvis in the number of hits on the Billboard charts and whose single, “E=MC2,” recently hit the top slot—failed to sign a pre-nuptial agreement with the lesser-known Cannon.
 

“There was no pre-nup, there wasn’t time," a friend of Carey’s said.   

Rapper Da Brat was one of the few guests in attendance at, what a source called a “very impulsive,” ceremony.

Before the ink could dry on Access Hollywood’s announcement this week that the pair had gotten engaged after just a month of dating, Carey and Cannon were already headed down the aisle.

Long-time pals, Carey and Cannon really hit it off when he directed the video for her latest single, “Bye, Bye,” in late March. But word of the romance didn’t gain traction until Cannon attended the premiere of Carey’s film, Tennessee, on April 26.

"Everyone is happy to see her happy," Carey's friend said, according to The Post. "And it could work out—some people know each other for five years and get divorced, maybe this is true instant love."   

Carey’s marriage to Cannon is her second. The songstress was previously married to music mogul Tommy Mottola early in her career and they divorced in 1998.

 

Cannon was previously engaged to Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks, to whom he proposed via the Times Square jumbotron.   

Five months after he proposed Cannon and Ebanks called it quits.

Tracy E Gilchrist © 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Caravan theft DOWN 70%

We like a nice press release here at PinkNews.co.uk Towers, and this doozie caught our eye this morning as we sifted through our bulging inboxes:

Figures released today at the National Vehicle Crime Conference show that caravan thefts have dropped by a staggering 70% since 2000.

Working  closely with the Home Office as part of the Leisure Sector Crime Reduction Action Team (LSCRAT) industry bodies and consumer groups have made a significant impact on the level of caravan crime.

 

Alan Bishop, Chairman of LSCRAT and Industry Relations Director for HPI, says, “Today we are enjoying the lowest ever recorded theft figures for caravans. When the Home Office asked me to take the Chair of the LSCRAT in early 2000, caravan thefts were at an all time high. Over 5,000 caravans were being stolen every year causing distress to their owners and costing the industry millions. By working together we have reduced that by some 70% with current levels running at just 1,600 per annum.”

 

A key part of the success is down to an education programme designed to help police officers throughout the country to tackle caravan crime with confidence. Central to this programme was the improved access provided by HPI to the NCC’s Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme, (CRiS) which is now available on-line 24/7 as part of a suite of police support tools.

 

“This achievement is testament to the hard work of the industry as a whole,” concludes Bishop. “New and innovative built-in security devices were developed, while consumer groups raised awareness of the need for vigilance.  But by far the greatest impact has been through improved police activity.

 

“It is important that we continue to build on this success. Nobody should think ‘job done’, otherwise we will soon see a return to the multi-million pound losses the industry suffered at the end of the last century. I am confident that new initiatives in the pipe-line and the on-going commitment to police liaison will ensure we reduce the levels of caravan theft even further.”

LiLo, sex tapes and suing Oprah: the week in entertainment

Kristin Davis and Lindsay Lohan sex deny sex tape rumours; The Hills star Audrina Patridge defends nude photos; Halle Berry welcomes a new addition; ABBA drummer Ola Brunkert and legendary author Arthur C. Clarke die; R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe 'comes out'; Sarah Jessica Parker mad at Maxim's "Unsexiest Women Alive" list; Oprah gets sued and Amanda Overmyer exits Idol with grace.

   

Celebrity Sex Tape #1 - Lindsay Lohan   

A porn video featuring a woman rumored to be Lindsay Lohan surfaced on the Net on Thursday, launching the second celebrity sex tape blitz of the week. The video allegedly features Lohan engaged in a sex act with ex-boyfriend Calum Best. However, both Lohan and Best are denying they are the ones in the tape. This is not the first time Best has been linked to a sex tape. The model and son of English soccer star George Best previously made a cell phone video of himself having sex with two prostitutes, according to FoxNews.com.   

Gossip site TMZ.com states they have confirmed the video is not of Lohan, but instead were taken from an XTube.com video posted several months ago of an unknown couple. Though the case is likely closed on this rumor, apparently Best would have been happy to have actually had a real video of Lohan doing the nasty. His representative told In Touch Magazine, "If it was Column we would have it shrink-wrapped and put out onto a DVD for Christmas… We'd all be retired by now if that were the case."

 

>> Read more on this story.   

Celebrity Sex Tape #2 - Kristin Davis   

Steamy 'leaked' photos from a rumored sex tape featuring Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis exploded across the Net this week. The pics, featuring an attractive brunette with a strong resemblance to Davis, allegedly originated from ex-boyfriend Eric Stapleman. Stapleman claims, according to TMZ.com, the photos were taken years ago during their relationship and he sold them because he was angry with the actress.   

   

Davis, however, has stated through a representative that the photos are not of her and there "is no sex tape." While the latest information confirms that sex tape probably does not exist, it remains to be proven definitively whether the photos, at least, might still be of Davis.

 

>> Read more on this story.

 

Patridge Says Nude Photos Were "Artistic"   

Audrina Patridge, star of the MTV reality show The Hills, had no problem in acknowledging the nude photos of her leaked online earlier this week. The nude photos, apparently taken nearly five years ago, featured Patridge topless in a skirt and fully nude in a bathtub. Patridge quickly stepped up to say the photos were indeed of her, but that she was not ashamed of them.

   

The Hills star said in a post on her MySpace page that the photos were taken when she was "just out of high school and beginning to model… I was young and very trusting of others, and I didn't know to protect myself." Although she regrets having done them, Patridge said there was nothing wrong with the photos. "I intended them to be artistic and not in any way provocative… I'm not ashamed of these photos, but I don't want my young fans to think they have to do what I did."

>> Read more on this story.   

Halle Berry Welcomes New Baby   

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Sunday. The 41-year-old star and model boyfriend Gabriel Aubry named their newborn daughter Nahla Ariela, which roughly translates to "honeybee" and "lioness for God." Berry reportedly had not picked out a name until just before leaving for the hospital to give birth.

   

Interestingly, both the child's first and middle names are similar to characters in two Disney movies—Nala from The Lion King and Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Rumor has it this may not have been an accidental resemblance as a source close to the actress reportedly said Berry has "always been a huge fan of the Disney films," according to Stuff.co.nz.   

>> Read more on this story.   

More on next page...
\\\   

(continued)

 

Sad Goodbye to Ola Brunkert & Arthur C. Clarke   

This week, the world said goodbye to two iconic figures, one in music and one in literature.   

ABBA drummer Ola Brunkert was found dead at his home in Spain on Sunday, the victim of a freak accident. Sixty-two year-old Brunkert, who played with the band and performed on their albums, died after shattering a glass door when he fell into it. "A glass door in the kitchen of the house was shattered and it appears that this man fell through the door. He then managed to get out into the garden where he died," a spokesperson from the Civil Guard told the press.

>> Read more on this story.   

   

Legendary science fiction author Sir Arthur C. Clarke also died this past week. Clarke died at his home in Sri Lanka from respiratory failure at the age of 90. Clarke wrote over 100 fiction and non-fiction books during his life and co-authored the film 2001: A Space Odyssey with Stanley Kubrick. Although Clarke was never open about his sexuality, he has long been believed to be one of the most prominent gay writers of the last century.

>> Read more on this story.   

R.E.M. Singer Michael Stipe Talks About Being Gay   

Although technically R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe has been out as a gay man for nearly a decade, this week he decided to finally talk more publicly about his sexuality. Stipe told Spin Magazine he made the decision to 'come out' more about being gay because he recognizes "that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there."

   

Stipe said that although he has always been open with his band members, family and friends, he previously believed being vocal about his sexuality wasn't all that important. Now, however, he says he understands why the GLBT community needs public figures to embrace their sexuality openly.

>> Read more on this story.   

Sarah Jessica Parker Bashes Maxim   

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker came out swinging this week at Maxim magazine for naming her the #1 "Unsexiest Woman Alive" on a recent list. Second on the list was Amy Winehouse, trailed by Madonna, Sandra Oh and Britney Spears. Although the Maxim poll was published way back in October, Parker has apparently been holding a grudge about it for some time.

   

In a recent interview with Grazia magazine, Parker slammed the magazine, saying "Do I have fake boobs, Botox and big lips? No. Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in a men's magazine? Maybe not… It's so brutal in a way, so filled with rage and anger, so it was surprising to me that more people didn't talk about the providence of it, that it's coming from these men." Parker continued, "I played a lot of parts, women that are really interesting and attractive to me. Obviously someone thinks I'm palatable to some degree."

Oprah Facing Multiple Lawsuits   

Daytime talk show diva Oprah Winfrey is defending herself in two new lawsuits against The Oprah Winfrey Show in the news this week. One lawsuit is from a woman who claimed she suffered "severe and permanent injuries" after being trampled when the audience rushed for seats during a taping of the show. Orit Greenberg is seeking over $50,000 in medical fees and other damages. Greenberg claims she was pushed down a flight of stairs after show crew told audience members they could pick their own seats for the taping and a mad stampede ensued for the choicest seats.

   

The other pending lawsuit comes from a woman who claims she was the one who came up with the idea for Winfrey's new hit show, Oprah's Big Give. Darlene Tracy claims the idea for the show was stolen from a reality program proposal she sent to Oprah's company in 2005. She claims she spoke several times with an executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show about the proposal around a show called The Philanthropist, but eventually was told they would be passing on the series. However, Tracy claims that only a year later, Winfrey launched the idea for Big Give—which she claims is basically the same as her proposed idea. A representative for the company said the claims were "without merit."

Read more on this story.   

Amanda Overmyer Exits Idol with Class   

Rocker girl Amanda Overmyer was voted off American Idol this week, but unlike some other vanquished contestants, she seems to be taking the loss in stride. Overmyer told Entertainment Weekly after leaving the show that she hopes she can make a career out of singing, but "this will not be the unicorn I will chase for the rest of my life."

   

Overmyer said she will see where her stint on Idol takes her, but that she is prepared to return to her life as a nurse who performs on the side if that's what ends up happening. When EW stated that usually ex-Idol contestants go on and on about how they are "destined to be a star," Overmyer replied frankly, "I hate those fucking answers. Are you kidding me?"

Ann Turner © 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved

Lopez names sprogs

The names of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's newborn twins have finally been 'officially' released to the public. As previously rumoured, the newest members of the famous family are named Max and Emme, the couple's publicist confirmed.

 

Jennifer Lopez gave birth on February 22 to the twins, a boy and a girl, at North Shore University Hospital in New York.

Even as parents Lopez and Marc Anthony welcomed the new additions to their family, the bidding war for the first photos of the babies was already underway. The winner: People Magazine, which reportedly plans to shell out $6 million for the exclusive first pics.

 

Lopez gave birth to the long-awaited twins shortly after 12 a.m.

First to arrive was baby girl Emme weighing in at 5 lbs. 7 oz., followed by baby boy Max weighing in at 6 lbs. The twins are the first children for 38-year-old Lopez. Anthony has three previous children from two previous relationships.

 

"Jennifer and Marc are delighted, thrilled and over the moon," Lopez's manager Simon FieldsPeople.com. told

 

After long refusing to acknowledge her pregnancy to the public despite an ever growing baby-bump, Jennifer Lopez finally came clean in November.

At a media event during a Miami concert on November 8, Lopez and Anthony formally announced they were expecting.

The news that the couple were expecting twins was revealed by Lopez' father earlier this month in an interview with Escandalo TV. Lopez and Anthony were married in June, 2004.   

According to the New York Daily News, People Magazine won a bidding war to acquire the exclusive first photos of the twins. The magazine is reportedly offering to pay at least 6 million for the pics. People shelled out 4 million for the first photos of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh.   

The official name announcement confirms earlier rumours around the names chosen for the twins. Gossip sites across the web had already uncovered the names before the announcement because of a leaked conversation by Lopez's mother about two baby bracelets engraved with the names.

Ann Turner © 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved

Ben Affleck's being gay with Kimmel

In response to girlfriend Sarah Silverman’s declaration by song that she’s fucking Matt Damon, late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has countered with a little revalation of his own: That he’s fucking Ben Affleck.   

The revenge track featured a bare-chested Kimmel opposite good sport Affleck doing each other’s hair, painting each other’s toenails and bragging about their sexual relations together.

Earlier this year, Silverman and Damon paired for the track that sparked this reponse. Silverman and Kimmel have based much of their comedy around jabbing at each other. The pair have been coupled since 2002.

Angela D'Amboise
© 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Spain's deputy PM not a lesbian

Just in case you were wondering, the deputy prime minister of Spain is definitely not a lesbian.

But for the record, she does seem rather pleased with the question, flushing to El Mundo that: "At last someone has asked me."

There were internet rumours doing the rounds last week that she'd shacked up with a television sports presenter, but  - deep breath - Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega - says it just ain't so.

Apparently, her mum keeps on trying to marry her off for ages, but happiness for her is "being alone on her sofa, with a little music, without having to listen to anybody, and with the phone not ringing."

The UK doesn't have a deputy PM anymore, but fear not: We're still trying to dig up something saucy about the last one - John Prescott. When we get there, you'll be the first to know.

Cleveland Browns quarterback denies anti-gay slur accusations

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn is turning out to be one of the hottest young players both on and off the field. This week, however, the 23-year-old stunner has come under some fire after it was reported that he was yelling anti gay slurs and harassing patrons outside of a Cleveland bar. Quinn adamantly denies the accusations, and the Browns are supporting their player.

While at Notre Dame, Quinn was a star player who broke over 36 school records during his four-year tenure. He placed third in the Heisman Trophy race, and was awarded honours as the top college quarterback in the nation.

With high expectations going in to the NFL draft, Quinn was the 22nd over all pick as the third string quarterback for the Browns. This year, he signed a five-season contract reportedly worth over $20 million and made his starting debut in the final game of the season.

On New Year’s Eve, Seth Harris placed a call to 911 and accused the quarterback of harassing gay patrons at a local bar.

The Associated Press reported that Harris told the operator, "There's a group of football players, Brady Quinn from the Browns ... and he's trying to cause a fight. His friends are yelling at all of the gay people that are around here."

Police arrived on the scene outside of La Fogata Grill, and Quinn was seen arguing with 32-year-old Jason Thompson.

by Dylan Vox © 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Britney's parents fear for her life

Jamie and Lynne Spears say they are “extremely disappointed” that their daughter, singer Britney Spears, was allowed to leave the psychiatric ward at the UCLA Medical Centre yesterday despite their wishes and the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist.

 

"We are deeply concerned about our daughter's safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk," the pair said in a statement released to The Associated Press this morning.

"We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted."

 

According to the Los Angeles Times, hospital officials released Spears after a week of treatment because she no longer posed a danger to herself or to others, and they couldn’t continue to hold her against her will, despite the fact that Jamie Spears had been named his daughter’s conservator earlier in the week.

(A conservatorship is granted when a court determines a person is unable to care for his or her own affairs.)

 

Spears left the hospital quietly, the newspaper reported, with just a private security detail escorting her home. The scene stood in stark contrast to the one that occurred last week, when more than a dozen police officers accompanied the ambulance that took the popstar to the UCLA Medical Center.

 

“It occurred without any law enforcement intervention, and for the public that's a good thing," Capt. Sharyn Buck, commander of the North Hollywood police station, told The Associated Press shortly after Spears’ release.

 

After leaving the hospital, TMZ.com reported that the singer returned to her North Hollywood home before hitting the streets of Los Angeles to snap photos of paparazzi while driving her new Mercedes.

Chrys Hudson © 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Muslim dating on gay website

New York based blog Queerty is known for several things: an obsession with dodgy porn star Michael Lucas, an appreciation for the male form and a unique take on current affairs.

In its own words, it is free of an agenda, except that gay one.

Imagine our surprise to find, nestled among their numerous postings, an advert for singlemuslim.com, which as we all know is the UK's leading Muslim marriage service.

Apparently it is all the fault of Google ads, though a Queerty insider did say he thinks the Muslim gentleman in the picture is dishy!

Who would you vote for?

Two pieces of trivial nonsense for those of you who just can't get enough of US politics.

Firstly, this is a cool lil quiz that will find out who is the best candidate for you to vote for - the ABC News Match-o-Matic.

Then there is the delightful WHAT IF WE ALL VOTED.

Give it a go! It has thrown up some odd results, as you can see below:

Labour MP just horsing around

Labour MP Ronnie Campbell has admitted to having a horse fetish...sort of.

Mr Campbell, 64, told the organisers of yesterday's National Fetish Day, that he would wear purple to mark the event - the chosen colour for the event because of its use in bondage circles.

He then told a local newspaper reporter: "I must have a thousand [fetishes], but, hand on heart, I couldn't tell which is the most important one. Probably the horses."

It seems Campbell had failed to realise the meaning of the word 'fetish'.

When informed he said:

"Oh my God almighty! I though a fetish was a worry, like worrying about backing the right horse."

Oh dear. Someone get that man a dictionary!

Oscar nominations - usual suspects

Them Oscar nominations are in - not an out gay in sight but lots of Brits. It is still not what effect the ongoing writer's strike will have on the ceremony, which takes place on the 24th February in LA's Kodak Theatre, presented by lovely John Stewart off the Daily Show.

Earlier this month the Golden Globes ceremony was cancelled as apparently people can't write their own jokes.

BEST ACTOR

George Clooney - Michael Clayton

Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tommy Lee Jones - In The Valley Of Elah

Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Casey Affleck - The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War

Hal Holbrook - Into The Wild

Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Julie Christie - Away From Her

Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose

Laura Linney - The Savages

Ellen Page - Juno

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

Ruby Dee in - American Gangster

Saoirse Ronan - Atonement

Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone

Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Persepolis

Ratatouille

Surf's Up

BEST DIRECTOR

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly - Julian Schnabel

Juno - Jason Reitman

Michael Clayton - Tony Gilroy

No Country For Old Men - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

There Will Be Blood - Paul Thomas Anderson

BEST PICTURE

Atonement

Juno

Michael Clayton

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood

BEST SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED)

Atonement - Christopher Hampton

Away From Her - Sarah Polley

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly - Ronald Harwood

No Country For Old Men - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

There Will Be Blood - Paul Thomas Anderson

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)

Juno - Diablo Cody

Lars And The Real Girl - Nancy Oliver

Michael Clayton - Tony Gilroy

Ratatouille - Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco

The Savages - Tamara Jenkins

Basketball snog upsets fans

Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss, and sometimes it requires an extreme explanation.

This week, columnist Pam Platt, who had posted a picture in the Louisville Courier-Journal of two University of Louisville Cardinal’s basketball players in what looked like a kiss, was forced to explain the photo after numerous complaints from outraged fans.

In a game where the Cardinals basketball team outplayed the Kentucky Wildcats in the annual men's Battle of the Bluegrass, photographer Sam Upshaw Jr. snapped a picture of Card’s Jerry Smith hugging Juan Palacios after an important play.   

The picture was posted as the header for the article about the game, and fans wrote in apparently disgusted by the photo of two men that appeared to be kissing.

In her column explaining the photo, Platt said that some of the responses included, "'Awful,' 'an embarrassment,' 'horrible decision,' 'poor judgment,' 'distasteful,' 'a mystery' and 'shame on you'.”

Now it is not apparent whether the complainers were offended that the magazine seemed to be capitalising on a sensationalized photo, or if they were disgusted by the thought that two men may have accidentally touched mouths in a moment of excitement.

What is clear is that Platt did not feel the need to apologise for the photo as much as she felt the need to explain why it was chosen.

In her follow-up article Platt stated, "What is it about two athletes sharing a moment of physical and emotional closeness in the middle of a big game, in the middle of a basketball court, that puts some people off so much?"

dylan vox

© 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Bears night advertises on Vauxhall billboard

Embracing the attitude that there's not much 'gayer than Christmas', London Bears Club Tonkers decided on an unusual method of sending out their seasons greeting this year.

Hiring space on the revolving billboard above Vauxhall station, which faces Europe's busiest road junction, they erected a huge poster of a reclining porn performer.

Above him was their Christmas message with details of the club, which takes place at the Eagle every Friday.

What British Gas and Canon Printers, the other advertisers on the board thought, hasn't been reported.

But seeing as it's Vauxhall, they can be guaranteed more than a few up-turned eyes saw their posters than would otherwise have done.

It is thought to be the first time in the UK that a gay club night has advertised on a billboard.

Tab tackles trans tryst with rugby hero

You gotta love the News of the World.

The UK's best-selling newspaper - in fact the best-selling English-language newspaper in the world - was getting its head round trans issues yesterday.

This story has it all - sports stars, pop stars, and a lady with an impressive chest.


Rugby star Danny Cipriani has been dumped by his Cheeky Girl girlfriend after the NotW revealed that he had bedded Larissa Summers. He was dating the Cheeky one who isn't going out with Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik.

Larissa used to go by the name of Darren. That's the story basically.

Most of the article is actually a surprisingly sympathetic treatment of how Larissa transitioned into a "curvy model," apart from calling her "Darren" practically the whole way through the article.

Of course the reporting of her night of passion with the rugby player is related in true NotW style:

"Last week model Larissa told the News of the World how he booked them into a £150-a-night Ramada hotel room for a night of passion.

"She said: "Danny was all over me and we had fast, frantic sex in about three different positions.              

"It was all over quickly, but it was exciting. He was very dominant and knew exactly what he wanted to do." "

According to the NotW, Danny's not the first "celeb" to be tempted by Larissa's charms - she also had a fling with Big Brother contestant Billi Bhatti.

A "source" told the paper:

"Danny is a big, strapping player and rugby is not known as a very forgiving sport.

"He may well come in for some ribbing over this.

"Anyone can see why he went with Larissa — she is stunning and no one could really tell she used to be a he.

"But the changing room will never be the same again for Danny! He had his fun — now he'll have to face the consequences."

Danny is one of the rising talents of English rugby, and <I>The Times </i> collectively almost wet themselves every time they mention him:

"He can kick beautifully at goal and out of hand, he can defend, he reads the game superbly, he has a deep well of self-belief.

"He is also seriously fast." Yeah, that's what Larissa said ...

Mystery surrounds Miss Puerto Rico

By now, everyone’s heard the story of the latest Miss Puerto Rico, Ingrid Marie Rivera, crowned on Saturday after overcoming a bomb scare, theft and an unfortunate encounter with pepper spray.

Well, the 24-year-old beauty queen is back in the headlines today, but the news isn’t focused on her heroism like it was before.

An article posted to People.com earlier today suggests police are investigating whether the clothes and make-up of Rivera, who is scheduled to be interviewed on Wednesday's Today show, were, in fact, spiked with pepper spray.

Early news reports about the Miss Puerto Rico competition suggested one of Rivera’s competitors spiked her clothes and make-up with pepper spray, prompting her to ice her face and body to prevent swelling between events.

She also had to deal with the theft of some of her bags, which contained clothing and credit cards, and a bomb threat that forced the cancellation of some preliminary events.

"It was a lot of sacrifice, and my tears were genuine," Rivera told reporters over the weekend. "At one point, I asked, 'Am I a masochist?' But I said regardless of the results, this is my goal. The more rocks there are in my path, the more thanks I will give to God for sustaining me."

Pageant and police officials vowed to get to the bottom of the attempted sabotage, with Magali Febles, director of the Miss Puerto Rico Universe Pageant, telling Reuters, "I am going to investigate this until the final consequences. When we have everything, I will announce who the person is because someone with these instincts is capable of anything."

Bryan Ochalla © 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Tudors star arrested in Dublin

Hottie actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was arrested yesterday after being refused permission to get on board a flight in Dublin.

The Tudors star was apparently engaged in a clash with airport employees after being told he was unfit to travel.

JMR was later released from jail after paying a cash bail and will appear in an Irish court next month. He was in town promoting his new film August Rush and had appeared on the TV show Turbidy Tonight hours before his arrest.

Rhys Meyers attended rehab earlier this year for alcohol addiction. It seems everyone is doing it these days.

Britney, Amy, Pete. Maybe rehab shouldn't stand for rehabilitation any more. Maybe it should stand for re-habitual offender, as it seems one time just isn't enough for these celebrities anymore.

photo: BBC

Clarkson book "physically repulses" women

A survey of 654 UK adults has confirmed what we always knew. Bubble-permed homophobe and professional bell end Jeremy Clarkson makes women sick.

"A third of women said they would actually be physically repulsed by a man they saw reading 'The World According To Clarkson' in public," according to the survey by a book swapping website.

Celebrity autobiographies such as 'Being Jordan' or 'Beckham: My World' are multi-million pound bestsellers, but read them in public at your peril, warns Britain's largest book exchange website, Readitswapit.co.uk.

A survey by the website reveals that the majority of Brits change their perceptions about people they see reading these books in public places.

Two out of three Brits surveyed said they would perceive someone who read Jordan's and Beckham's biographies in public as 'unattractive'.

Readitswapit.co.uk co-founder Andrew Bathgate said: "Jordan and Beckham are two of the most image-conscious celebrities on the planet – so it's ironic that if you read their autobiographies in public, your own image will suffer."

Overall, 97% said that, if they were single, their perceptions about a member of the opposite sex could be affected by the types of books they saw that person reading in public.

So what to read to impress the Tube commuters and increase your chances of pulling? Wuthering Heights and War and Peace apparently. No look in for Harry Potter, then.

The gay I got a day tattoo

An Australian football fan's tattoo tribute to his team didn’t turn out quite the way he planned after the tattooist got the words 'day' and 'gay' mixed up.

Geelong Cats supporter Neville wanted a permanent reminder of the team's AFL triumph and decided to get a tattoo while on a celebratory trip to Thailand.

He had asked for “Day Premiers 2007” to be written on his arm but instead the Thai tattooist etched the words “Gay Premiers 2007” on to his arm.

His instructions for each arm were also taken literally as he now has "left arm" and "right arm" tattooed on the appropriate limb.

Neville told 3AW radio: “I couldn't believe it. When I first walked in he showed me the picture of the thing, and I just looked at a picture and didn't really take notice of the words.

“My son-in-law walked in halfway through it ... and told me what happened, and I thought 'you're joking!

“Once they'd written right arm, I told them you might as well have left arm on the other one – and make it a bit fun.”



photo - which has nothing to do with the story but we quite liked it - is by victoriapeckham@flickr.com

Royals, gay sex, drugs and people called Fruity

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill had a unique take on the Royal scandal at the Stonewall Awards last night:

"It's an age old truth that some things never change and I was reminded of that by all this week's newspapers, with stories about a member of the Royal Family having gay sex and taking cocaine. The Daily Mail described this as unprecedented," he said.

"Those of us with long memories recall that it was just 70 years ago that it was widely reported that the late Duke of Kent, in a dressing room at the Wyndham theatre, had taken both cocaine and Sir Noel Coward!

"In the days I was a journalist it was explained to me by a member of the Royal Household that the only reason for this regrettable lapse was that the late Duke had been very much in love with society beauty Baba Curzon, but sadly she had run off with the great war hero Group Captain Fruity Metcalfe.

"Sadly of course, most of us cannot explain our sexual orientations in such an uncomplicated way."

Gay hate stickers on ebay

Thanks to Good As You for this depressing story.

Marketed as "pro-marriage" stickers, these are being sold on ebay by some loser from a place called Wisconsin.

Apparently they are "sure to draw some attention" and  "they really stand out and look great.

"I've had all three stickers on my vehicles for several months and have received nothing but praise. People love them! Especially the more rednecked types."

Sigh.

Gay rights poster in unexpected place

One of our correspondents spotted this poster on a rural road in Nicaragua and was much taken with it:

Duckie - An apology

PinkNews.co.uk would like to apologise to the promoters of Duckie, the Post-Poofter Purveyors of Progressive Working Class Entertainment, for a story on this blog that incorrectly stated that they receive government funding for their Saturday club nights, held at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

PinkNews.co.uk accepts that the £79,903 grant Duckie received from the Arts Council of Britain in 2005-6 was used to stage a series of events such as a theatre event at the Barbican and Gay Shame and that NO public money is used to fund club nights.

We apologise for this error.

Tony Grew
Editor
PinkNews.co.uk

Oasis person makes it onto wits list

3,000 comedy fans across the UK have been consulted about who they think are the wittiest Brits of all time.

They must be having a laugh with some of their choices: thuggish mono-browed Noel Gallagher is hardly renowned for his wit. Or his ability to write songs which don't sound like the Beatles.

"I'd do time for him.  I love him. Me and him are cool.  If anyone stepped on his toes, I'd cut them off."

Is that a line from Shameless? No, it is Noel at his glittering best.

These comments about his culture-loving younger brother are presented to us as an example of his wit.

Bell end and homophobe Jeremy Clarkson is also for some reason regarded as "witty" for his rudeness towards women, foreign people and anyone who doesn't have a bubble perm, a paunch and no idea how to dress.

And were there gays? Mais oui. The lovely Oscar Wilde at No 1,

National treasure Stephen Fry? Number three.

And the very, well, British Noel Coward at nine.

Shakespeare, who may or may not have been into boy-on-boy action, is in there along with Paul Merton, Spike Milligan, Sir Winston Churchill and football manager Brian Clough.

Tony Blair naked in front of Ali

OK - I know The Alastair Campbell diaries were published in way back in July but I have been busy with other things.

Plus everyone said all the best bits had been censored or something like that. Imagine my surprise when I did finally sit down to read them.

Obviously, I was searching through the book for clues about Blair's two reasonably dishy sons, Nicky and Euan, when I found this Campbell revelation.

He went to chat with the First Lord of the Treasury and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on December 1st about press reports that dishy son No 1 was to be sent to a grant-maintained school.

"I went in to see TB, who was standing stark naked reading the Mail," wrote Mr Campbell.

Nude Daily Mail reading. You didn't get that under John Major.

How widespread was this nudie behaviour in Downing St? Why wasn't he at least wearing pants?

I guess we will have to wait for Cherie's book to find out.

Biggins to play hunky Russian billionaire?

The Express reports, somewhat tongue in cheek, that portly B-List celeb and occasional politcal commentator Christopher Biggins is in the frame to play the owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich.

Larger-than-life Biggins, a renowned homosexual, hit the headlines only last week with a somewhat hysterical comment piece in the Daily Mail demonstrating his complete lack of understanding of the proposed new offence of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

"How utterly absurd to think that Kenneth Williams could have found himself in the dock and facing up to seven years in jail for inciting a culture of intolerance against the gay community," he trilled.

Yes, it is absurd isn't it.

"Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Frank Carson would all be behind bars, as would a host of gay comics like Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary who are the modern heirs of the great comedic tradition that Kenneth Williams and, of course, Frankie Howerd once embodied."

Anyway. Back to the Abramovich story.


It seems that a musical is being produced, based on the life of the Russian billionaire, based on a biography written  by Dominic Midgley and Chris Hutchins.

"It was one of the producers, Tony Cartwright, who came up with the idea to approach Christopher, " Hutchins told the Express.

"They knew that I was friends with him so they asked me to give him a call. He was very keen when I mentioned it to him. It's a spoof and Christopher has a great sense of fun so he would be brilliant in the role. One song involves Roman singing: 'Who needs a goil (girl) when you've got oil.'

"I'm not sure Roman would be too pleased with Christopher playing him. It's an outrageous but perfect choice. The decision should be made before Christmas as the show is set to start next spring."

Click here to read the government's response to Biggins.

Roman Abramovich pic: Free-ers@flickr.com 

Little Britain responsible for immigration

"I’M not sure how my gay-o-meter will handle this – DAVID WALLIAMS has become a gay icon in Poland.

Apparently gays there are packing their manbags for Britain, inspired by their new hero from Little Britain."

So says the Bizarre column in The Sun.

"Mirka Makuchowska, of the Polish Campaign Against Homophobia, said David had become an “important” figure to Polish homosexuals.

She said: “Little Britain has made a huge impact here.

“Especially David Walliams when he is playing Sebastian.

“It has even made many think of moving to Britain.”

photo: BBC Publicity

End Times War has begun.

Who knew?

Also - Jesus can spit fire out his mouth!

These revelations came in the form of an email to PinkNews.co.uk from a lovely man called Charles.

Charles is vexed that the government is going to introduce new legislation to stop incitement to hate gay, bisexual and lesbian people.

He took time from his busy schedule to write to the gays in person. Here is what he said.

"Hello wretched people, here is my reply to this treacherous government's plans to remove our freedom of speech.

   

"Ah the End Times War has begun and the last of the last days are with us.

"Real Christians will now have to show themselves instead of hiding behind their meaningless Christian Religion.

 

 
 

"Slimey Jack (Ass) Straw the minister of injustice has flexed his puny little muscles and fire from the Lord Jesus Christ's mouth awaits him - and here it is just for starters "Homosexuality and lesbianism are stinking vile sexual perversions." 

 

"Now, I will continue to say this privately and publicly until I die, so Straw's Stasi, New World Order Quango Courts can take a run and jump. To the Lord Jesus Christ his unjust laws are just an irrelevance.

 

"Bring it on, 'cos you ain't seen nor heard nothing yet.

 

Charles Crosby"

What a lovely man. It's all there - End Times Wars, the Stasi, the New World Order - not to mention a hilarious reference to Jack Straw as the minister of INjustice. Delightful.

Do keep your letters coming!

Lurid tales from La La Land

Rapper Kanye West, his ego and his fiancee enjoy the "Good Life" in Paris with Sting and Trudy Styler; Former President Bill Clinton gathers his superstar friends including Bono and Shakira together to mix music with a message at Harlem's Apollo Theatre; and India readies for the epitome of luxe as the Versace Group sets its sight on the subtropical continent. Hop aboard for another trek around the globe with the A-list.

Paris / Kanye West, Catherine Deneuve, Sting, Victoria Beckham, Christian LaCroix   

Sure La Tour Eiffel, La Louvre and L’Arc de Triomphe speak volumes about the beauty of Paris, but so does Paris Fashion Week where the world’s glitterati gather around catwalks and ogle the latest couture creations from the maestros of the fashion world. C’est vrai!

Always a starry time of year in the French capitol, Paris Fashion Week this year was considered a little weak on celebrity appearances until Victoria Bechkam arrived in town to help celebrate the opening of her pal Roberto Cavalli’s Avenue Montaigne flagship store. After all, what are good friends for? Mrs. Beckham was also in town to do an Elle photoshoot, so, if you happened to be in Paris..yes, the flashbulbs were probably for her!

Speaking of flashbulbs, Kanye West and fiancée Alexis Phifer were spotted in the front row at John Galliano’s Dior show, which was also attended by Sting and wife, Trudy Styler. West and Phifer were also seen at shows for Vivienne Westwood, Givenchy, Yohji Yamamoto, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga (where they found themselves in the company of Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert and Salma Hayek’s fiancée and baby daddy, François-Henri Pinault).

 

Finally, the legendary designer Christian Lacroix surprised his well-heeled guests at his Tuileries show with limited edition bottles of Evian spring water that he had designed himself. Couture water? What a grand idea. Look for the prêt-à-porter bottles at select retailers this month. Que sera sera…

New York / Bill Clinton, Jessica Biel, Bono, Tony Bennett, Chris Rock, Shakira, Cate Blanchett

There has perhaps never been a former President with more cache than the man I hope will soon be known as America’s first husband, Bill Clinton. While Hillary hits the stump around the country shaking hands and winning fans, her other half continues to do good works all around the globe surrounded by a klatch of famous faces and names everywhere he goes.

Last week, the former prez’s Global Initiative Conference was the place to be as Brad PittAngelina Jolie stopped by to lend a little glitz to the goodwill gathering and were joined by other big names like Jessica Biel, Petra Nemcova, Alyssa Milano and Mary Louise Parker.
and

Never one to miss an opportunity to entertain or throw a party, Mr. Clinton was also front row and center at a MTV-sponsored forum in Harlem where Shakira, Bono, Chris Rock and Alicia Keys mixed music with a call for youth activism. Rock stars, supermodels, A-list actors and actresses…don’t tell me Bill Clinton ain’t one cool cat!

…Also in NYC last week, Cate Blanchett was the belle of the ball at a celeb-heavy screening of her new film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Designer darlings Michael Kors and Zac Posen mingled with fashion royalty Anna Wintour, Kelly Klein and Princess Alexandra of Greece and icons like Martha Stewart and Lauren Bacall at the Tribeca Grand Hotel where all had gathered to pay homage to the queen of the night, the Rodarte clad Miss Blanchett. Also seen enjoying the evening, model Helena Christensen and actress cum songstress, Gina Gershon. Sounds swell…positively swell!

India / Versace   

When it comes to glam, brand Versace has got it in spades. Not comfortable to dazzle on the runway the Versace brand has over the years been extended to everything from bedding to aircraft interiors, but nowhere has the Versace stamp been more luxuriously conveyed than in Australia’s Palazzo Versace, a five star property that is an ode to the elegant Versace lifestyle and fittingly Australia’s most expensive hotel. A home away from home for the rich and famous, in better times, Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson famously spent some quality time holed up at the ritzy digs.

After the resounding success of the first Palazzo Versace, the Versace group has announced a plan for a new property in Dubai and, just recently, a mega resort in India. Given that she was such great friends with the late designer and inspiration for the brand, perhaps Liz Hurley will choose to celebrate an anniversary with her gazillionaire husband at the latter. Just a thought…

 

Hurley or no, however, the Palazzo Versace India is bound to not only be the place to spot Bollywood stars but a great many other bold-faced names dying to experience India’s subtropical pleasures in unabashed luxe.

Until next time …Cheers! And happy star sighting!

          

Duane Wells © 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.

Kanye pic - Tyler Curtis@flickr.com

Popbitch name-checks PinkNews.co.uk!

We knew one day it could happen - and now it has!

PinkNews.co.uk has made it onto fab n cheeky gossip site popbitch!


>> Pink pounding <<
  Voters turn the air blue for Tories

    What can the Tories do to convince people
    they're all modern and inclusive now? Well,
    they've been courting the gay vote on
    pinknews.co.uk, pleading to advertise on
    popbitch, and in Worcester they even selected
    one of Britain's top erotic fiction writers,
    Lisa Ventura, aka "Rose" to fight a council
    by-election. Sadly Lisa lost a previously safe
    seat. The party lost control of the council.
    And poor Lisa's website, eroticfiction.org -
    blamed for her defeat - is currently shut.
    And Lisa lives in... Beaver Close.

See - told you it was cheeky!

The pink way to keep your stockings up

There we were all set to take the piss - as ususal - and they go and throw a charity at us and spoil our fun!

"Charnos’ ‘National Stockings Day’ is nearly here! Let’s get our Leggy Ladies back in stockings on Friday 19^th October," said the email in the PinkNews.co.uk inbox.

Snigger.  Like National Shed Week, but with ladies' stockings! Well not quite - because the event is "in support of Breast Cancer Care."

Charnos has even gone to the trouble of creating a pink ribbon lace top stocking and hold-ups (priced £8.00 RRP) that will be sold in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

All sounds very sexy to us.

Mormon beefcake calendar on sale

"The 2008 Men on a Mission calendar features twelve handsome returned Mormon missionaries from across the United States who, for the first time ever, have dared to pose bare-chested in a steamy national calendar.

"Usually seen riding their bicycles and preaching door-to-door, these hunky young men of faith explode with sexuality on each calendar page.

"Hand-selected for their striking appearances and powerful spiritual commitment, the "devout dozen" are stepping away from the Mormon traditions of modest dress, and "baring their testimony" to demonstrate that they can have strong faith and be proud of who they are, both with a sense of individualism and a sense of humour.

"While the fact that twelve young returned missionaries are posing shirtless will certainly raise eyebrows, it may also help to sort out some common misconceptions of Mormons by celebrating the beautiful bodies, great looks and amazing stories of service of these deeply spiritual men.

"Intended to be a light-hearted spin on a social taboo, the Men on a Mission calendar is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the selfless servitude of missionaries."

Get your very own Mormons Exposed calendar today!

Note: this calendar is not sanctioned by the Church of Jesus and the Latter Day Saints.

Are they or aren't they?

Written By Ross von Metzke


Jodie Foster isn’t out—at least not in the traditional sense. She didn’t show up with her girlfriend on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall when Mayor Gavin Newsom declared it OK for gays and lesbians to get married. There was no "Puppy Episode". No cover of The Advocate, no crude comments made by cast members which led to Jodie feeling backed into a corner. In fact, Jodie Foster has never—and may never—say those two little words that would confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’s a lesbian.

But does that mean she’s in the closet?   

We could spend all day trying to debate what Jodie’s really trying to tell us by making seven figure donations to The Trevor Project and waxing poetic in interviews about the “perfect Aryan total goddess” that is Uma Thurman, but the fact is she’s just one of many “maybe gay” celebrities the press has written about over the years. Whether it’s just a hunch, backed by photo evidence or something that’s just a known secret in and around Hollywood, every time you turn around it seems like another celebrity has jumped on the “could be, who knows” train.

So who among our favorite celebs could be gay and who is probably just an overblown crush taken to extremes? Beginning this week, we'll take a look at some of our favorite stars and decide whether it sounds like fact or